Sanders’ Health Plan Renews Debate On Universal Coverage

From National Public Radio (NPR), February 23, 2016

When Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders stumps for health care for everyone, it always gets huge applause. “I believe that the U.S. should do what every other major country on Earth is doing,” he told a crowd at Eastern Michigan University on Feb. 15. “And that is, guarantee health care to all people as a right.”

The Democratic presidential hopeful basically wants to nationalize the U.S. health insurance industry, and have Uncle Sam foot the bill for medical bills, office visits and prescriptions. Get rid of copays. Get rid of deductibles. Get rid of lots of forms.The voters love it.

But the proposal has ignited a lively debate among left-leaning economists and policy analysts, and some are challenging his numbers.